Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds



Oct. 25, 1949.

f w. J. MILLER 2- APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLAY TO POTTERY MOLDS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 8, 1943 Y [NVENTOH William J". M12691? ATTZANE'Y Oct. 25, 1949. w. J. MILLER I 2,

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLAY T0 POTTERY MOLDS Original Filed Jan. 8, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY 7 2 Arm.

Oct. 25, 1949. w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLAY TO POTTERY MOLDS 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Original Filed Jan. 8, 1943 W. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLAY TO' POTTERY MOLDS Oct. 25, 1949.

7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Jan. 8, 1943 w. 25, 1949. w. J. MILLER 2,486,051

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLAY TO POTTERY MOLDS Original Filed Jan. 8, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Willem J Miller.

Ucfi. 25, 1949. w. J. MILLER 2,435,051

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLAY TO POTTERY MOLDS Original Filed Jan. 8, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 J94 a 670 I 5&1'5 676167/ 1 3 2704 v 3% HGT-12 INVENTOR.

Oct. 25, 1949.

W. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLAY TO POTTERY MOLDS Original Filed Jan. a, 1943 5&14

7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 25, 1949 I UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLAY TO POTTERY MOLDS William J. Miller, S'w-iss'vale, Pa,- assignor to-Miller Pottery Engineering Company, Swissvale, Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania.-

Original application January& "1943, Serial No.

471,704. Divided and thisapplication September 14, 1-944, Serial No. 554,115 l 37 Claims. 01. 251) 1 2 .T uappiication is. a. division of application as illustrated: in the patent-to Miller No. 2,046,525, No. 471,704, filed January 8, 1943, now Patent I propose to make the present system. continu. ,.2,40'z,321 ous, somewhat as shown in the application to This'invention relates to apparatus for feed- William J. Miller, Serial No. 413,734, filed: October jngclay t th m lds. It. has to do particularly p; 6, 1941:, now Patent No; 2,409,172. That is to say, with the manufacture of ware such as iiggered from the beginning of fabricating operations to dinnerwara'for instance, plates, cups and sauthe point When the ware is removed from the cars, bowls and the like. dryer and therebeyond, the materials will move The mass production of pottery ware by autoin continuous fashion whilst the various fabrimatic machine and processes has involved a cercating operations are performed. This makes tain amount of manual intervention, particularly for increased production spgedsand ra t in the treatment and preparation of raw macapacity of themachinery. Furthermore, clay is terials and in certain phases of clay, ware and supplied tothe fabricating portion of the present mold transportation; manipulation and processmechanical organization by a system and appaing 17 ratusdisclosed in application-Serial No. 454,716,

One of the objects of thisinvention is to place filed August 13 1942, to William-J. Miller, now the manufacture of pottery ware on as near a Patent No. 2,413,330.

fullyautomatic basis as possible all the way from In the drawings the raw material stage to that of dried product Figures 1., 2' and: 3- taken together to matchready for first firing. By substantially eliminatend to end in their order lengthwisefrom left ing the human element inthis respect, it is posto right constitute a diagrammatic view in plan sible to remove handicaps which have heretoof the entire Ware production system of th me fore interferred with the continuity, quality and vention. t of production, Figure-4 is a-view'partl-y in. elevation and part- Another and perhaps more important object ly in section of one of the rotary machines of of this invention is toprovide formak'ing simulthesystem for feeding clay charges to the molds. taneously several difi'erent kinds of ware, that is Figure 5 is a plan section of the said feeder as to say, ware having differences inshape, size, taken substantially on the irregular section'line decorative pattern or material and even com- 5-5 ofFigure 4. V position by means of a single, unitary mechani- Figure- 6 is'a View in reduced scale showing the cal organization. This invention comprehends said feederin suppliedassociation with a clay a hinery capable of performing many and difdesiecating deviceseen in vertical section. ferent steps, and combinations of steps in the Figure 7 is an enlarged view of certain parts manufacture of pottery ware some of which are seen in-Figure 4 showing a preformed charge for conventional steps or operations and other of hollow ware about to-beinitially fed to ahollow which afford new and improved ways and means ware mold.

of making pottery ware of this class. Figure 8-isanenlarged' View of other parts of The machinery of the present invention is so Figure 4 showing -a preformed charge for flat constructed and arranged that different seware about to-be-initially fed to a flat w'aremold.

quences of operations may be performed at the Figures 9 and 10" are views illustrating the same time and variations in the sequences and manner inwhich the charges seen in Figures 7 procedural steps may be made at will and in some and 8 are finally fed to their respective molds. cases whilethe machinery is in operation. Thus, Figure 11 is a central section of the upper part insofar as production diversification is concerned, N of another rotary clay charge feeder of the" it'ma-y' be varied from one which is highly diversisystem and constituting a modified form of the fied to one whereinsubstantially little or no difeeder of Figure 4.

versification occurs. Thus, I provide in a single Figure 12'is a fragmentary plan section of said unitary installation the means of meeting the feeder taken substantially on the section line daily requirements of the average pottery r I 21-! 2 of Figure 11. whether it-be for large or small amounts of pot- Figure 13 is a view in reduced scale showing tery of given shape ordesign and. it is well known the feeder of Figure 11 in supplied association that these requirements may vary widely, parwith acontinuous cla-y filter.

ticu-la-rly if the pottery merchandizes a large Figure 1-4 is a vertical central section of an number f, hapes. d i other rotaryclay chargev feeder of the system.

Instead of the intermittent fabricating. system Figure 15 is a fragmentary plan section of said the feeder of Figure 14 in supplied association with an ordinary type of pug mill.

As illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 1 to 3, the system includes an endless flexible mold conveyor 5! comprising a series of centrally open mold carriers or positioning rings 52 interconnected in equally spaced relation by flexible links or cable sections 53. The conveyor is maintained in a substantially horizontal plane while traveling continuously in a tortuous path about idler sprockets and rotary machines of the system by having outboard supporting rollers 54 riding on rails 55 (see Figures 1 and 3).

The molds for forming four types of Ware are carried in the rings 52 in duplicate successive sets which, in the course of the conveyor, are into co-operative relation with a series of rotary machines 60, SI, 62, 63 and 64 designed to respectively condition the molds, treat molds for a certain method of ware decoration, treat molds for another method of ware decoration, further condition the treated molds and treat molds for engobing certain ware. These machines are selectively used.

The molds then continue to a series of rotary machines 65, 66 and 67 designed to selectively feed clay charges of similar or of different com- 3 position or conditioned clay bodies to the molds and puddle and partially form the charges correlatively with respect to the ware forming surfaces of the molds prior to feeding. The charge feeding machines may be supplied from an enclosed clay preparation organization R designed to simultaneously and continuously prepare the various clay bodies desired from various plastic and nonplastic materials required and selectively feed same to the machines.

After receiving the charges, the molds continue to a series of rotary machines 1! to 93, inclusive, designed to selectively perform various forming, conditioning and decorating operations to produce the ware.

The molds then pass through a drier $5 for an optimum period to dry to leather hardness certain ware to be appendaged, such as cups or the like, which are then conveyed out of the drier at a take-off station E to a rotary machine 96 which transfers same from an upright position in the molds to an inverted position in co-operative relation with an appendaging machine 91, the transfer machine also being designed to fettle and smooth the ware prior to being transferred.

The molds are then returned into the drier and are conveyed past take-off stations F and G located along the conveyor course and are brought at predetermined points into cooperative relation, respectively with rotary machines 98 and 99 designed to transfer other types of ware, each requiring a different drying period, to suitable conveying apparatus I09 and MI arranged to convey the ware to suitable locations for further treatment. These machines are also designed to fettle, smooth and reverse or reposition the ware incident to transferring same, if desired.

Upon leaving the drier, the molds are advanced to a rotary machine 102 employed to lay to the molds or reform thereon partly dried ware that may have become slightly distorted during drying and being especially of use as located, in an installation or an adaptation of the system wherein no type of ware is completely dried in the dryer. However, if the system is adjusted 4 so that the ware leaving the dryer is too dry for the reforming operation, said machine N12 or number of same may be disposed along the conveyor course adjacent one or each of the takeoff or transfer stations E, G and F.

From the reforming machine I02, the molds continue to another rotary transfer machine 103 co-operating with a conveying system Nita to transfer the various types of ware that may remain on the conveyor to any one or a number of selected locations for further treatment, the machine being designed to fettle and smooth the ware and reverse the position thereof if desired.

Upon leaving the transfer machine 983, the empty molds are advanced to a rotary machine EM co-operating with a conveying system lll la to remove any one or all the molds of each set and transfer same to a suitable location for storage when changing the system over to the production of a different type or types of ware, or when damaged or worn molds require replacement for repair.

The next machine H35 along the course of the conveyor is also of the rotary type designed to co-operate with a conveying system lil5a for transferring molds for a certain type or types of Ware from one or more storage locations and placing same in the emptied mold carriers in any de-- sired order. The molds then continue to a rotary conditioning machine Hi6 designed to remove any foreign matter from the molds, and then continue to another conditioning machine It! employed to apply to all the molds, or only those which have just been placed on the conveyor, a conditioning medium, such as oil. The molds then pass through a conditioning zone "l8 comprising a tunnel within which the air is suitably heated or otherwise conditioned to dry or otherwise put the molds in a proper condition as they return to complete another cycle of operation.

Generally, the machines are of the rotary table type, about the tables of which the conveyor meshes to remain in cooperative relation with each machine during a sufiicient portion of its rotation to perform the various, operations on the molds or ware.

As seen in Figures 2 and 3, a power unit Hi9, such as a combination motor and adjustable speed reducer is employed to constantly drive the machines and mold conveyor in synchronism, through a power shaft Na and suitable gearing I992) co-operating between same and the rotary machines i3, 8! and 93 which thus serve as driving connections for the conveyor at spaced intervals therealong and whereby the conveyor in turn serves as a driven connection for the rotary machines with which it meshes between said intervals. It is also contemplated that the conveyor and any number or all of the said rotary machines and idlers defining its course may be independently or collectively driven in timed relation.

The mold charging machine 65 to which the molds are next advanced to be charged, is designed to feed charges of desiccated clay, when this type of clay is desired for the ware. The machine contains features generally characteristic of the feeder forming a part of the subject matter of my co-pending application Serial No. 413,734, filed October 6, 1941, and certain apparatus forming part of the subject matter of my application Serial No. 443,226, filed May 16, 1942 now Patent No. 2,450,437, whereby the charges will be accurately measured and so treated to 75 remove undesirable physical properties therefrom Such as strains, laps or folds which are detrimental to the fabricating, drying and firingbehavior of the clay,, or appearance thereafter.

As seen in Figures 4 and 5, this machine comprises a base 24-5 of a pedestal 246 supporting a central hollow shatt 241 on which rotates a turret or table 248. in the edge of the table 'arefour positioning pockets 249 and sheave formations-250 to respectively :receive the mold carriers and cable sections of the conveyor as it meshes to a major'degree thereabout,, during rotation of the table. As the mold carriers travel about the table, the mold on each carrier in succession is elevated and lowered by a vertically reciprocating chuck 253 into and out of cooperative relation with a. charging unit 254 of the machine which places and bonds a measured and. preformedcharge of clay 255 onto the center of themolding surfaceof the mold,

The. mold. chucks-253 are mounted on the top ends of vertical piston rods 256 of piston and cylinder type fluid pressure motors =25! secured to a table 258 arranged centrally under the connection with the table 248. Each fluid motor is energized at the proper time from a fluid pressure line 259 through a distributor 260 and a four-way valve 281 operated by adjustable arms 282 On the central shaft Z H, and connected with both ends of the motor cylinder by valved conduits 263 to regulate the phase and speed of reciprocation of the chuck. Each piston has a central duet 264 opening into the chuck and connected with a vacuum line 255 through a distribiitor valve 256 andhose 261- to vacuumize the chuck in holding the mold therein while elevated.

The charging units comprise upright charging cylinders 210 arranged co-axi'ally over the table pockets and carried by a wheel 2' spaced above and supported on the table 248'. each cylinder reciprocates a charging plunger 212' which, when raised to its upper limit, as

seen on dot-an'd-dash lines in Figure 4, co-op erates with a sliding gate 213 at the cylinder discharge end to form a clay charge measuring chamber. The gate for each cylinder comprises a slide plate guided in a guideway 2 14. across the bottom. end of a liner 2T5 in thecylinder and having an opening 216 arranged to register with the cylinder discharge end when moved to open position. Said liner is open at the lower end to forma discharge orifice or nozzle closed by gate 21=3-and through which day is delivered by plunger 212. when the gate is opened. Each gate is opened, by a solenoid 2H and closed by a spring 21-8, the solenoids being carried by the wheel 2' and energized at the proper time from suitable electric power lines by way-of a drum type switch 219 on the central shaft 241 co-operating with contacts 280 on the table 258.

Clay is fed into the measuring chambers,during a given portion of rotation of the table, from a stationary feeder head 282 comprising an arcuate feeder channel forming with the edge 283' of the wheel a feeding chamber 284- from which the clay is directed under pressure into the measuring chamberssuccessivelyby way of radial. ports 285: in the wheel edge. From the'time the ports 285- leave the feeder head '282 until the charges in the cylinders thereof are discharged, they are closed by an arcuate guard 286 engaging the wheel edge to prevent the escape of clay, as. seen in Figure 5.

Each plunger isreci procated'by a cylinder and piston fluid "pressure motor m mounted on a Within bracket 28E of the wheel-21 I. and having a depending piston rod 290 connecting with the plunger. The fluid motors are energized to opcrate the 'plungers at the: :proper time by means. substantially thesame as that employed for the motors 251 andinclu'dinga. distributor 30-0, fourway valves 3% and valved conduits -3-02'co-operating between'the; motorsand the air pressure line 259.

After each charging. cylinder has been filled by the feeding head 282, its gate is opened and the plunger lowered toaposition intermedate its feeding stroke training the bottom endof the charge into operative relation with a device 304 which puddles, smoothes and preformsthe charge and correlatively with the contour of the mold surface for which it is intended, while a small portion of the charge remains inthe me'asuring'chamber' or slide valve port ZHito prevent displacementthereofon the plunger (see left side of Figure 4). Hal-ting of each-plunger is effected by a movable-"stop 305 which oscillates into and out of the path of an adjustable abutment 3% on the upper-extension 301 of the piston rod 290 carrying the plunger. The stops are moved into stopping position by a stationary cam segment 308 co-operating with arms 309 on upright shafts 3J0 carried'by the brackets 289 and-on which the stops are'secured, the stops being moved out ofoperating-position by coiled springs 3! I co-oper'ating between the brackets and the arms.

Generally, preforming of "the charges consists in producing a mold engaging surface on same that will be at least partially 'correl'atively shaped with respect to the'ware formingsurface of the molds, to initially engage the surface at the center thereof and then progressivelyengage same radially thereof to force out any air that may otherwise be trapped therebetween when spread thereover. Accordingly, a hollow ware, or cup charge, Figure 7 may have a. smaller arcuately contoured bottom surface 3| 2 than the arcuate contour of the molding surface 3!:3 of the cup mold, and the flat ware or platecharge, Figure 8, may have. a dished bottom surface 314 provided with a central bulge 3L5.

After the charge has been preformed, the puddling and preforming device is lowered therefrom and swings out ofitspath, and the stop 3515 is retracted, whereupon the plunger completes its feeding stroke and the moldis elevated to compress the central portion of the charge onto the center of the ware'forming surface of the mold, as seen in Figures 9 and. 10, whereby the charge will firmly adhere or be bonded to the mold central therewith while being transported to the press. The charge is prevented from adhering to the plunger on its return stroke by the plunger having a permeable bottom end (H6 through which, at the proper time, air under pressure is forced from the pressure line 259 by way of a distributor 3H on'the central, shaft 2d? and a flexible conduit 3l8 connecting same with'a cen tral duct 319 continuing' through the plunger and piston rod supporting same.

Each puddling device 304 is constructed substantially in accordance with my application Serial No. 443,226, andgenerally includes'a rotating head 320 supporting suitably formed puddling and troweling tools 32! and 322. The base is rotatably mounted at the outer" end. of a horizontal frame 323 whose other end is secured to the 'bottom'end of a vertical shaft 324 in t'ele-- aration system R (see Figure 6).

7 scoping keyed connection with a sleeve 325 supported in a bearing 326 of the wheel 21!. The sleeve is oscillated to swing the puddling head laterally into and out of central alignment with a charge of clay thereunder, by a stationary cam 321 on the central shaft 241, co-operating with a lever 328n the sleeve. The shaft 324 is reciprocated, to raise and lower the head into and out of contact with the charge, Joya cam 329 on the central shaft co-operating with a roller 330 on the frame 323.

When elevated, each head 320 is rotated, to effect the puddling and preforming operation, by an electric motor 333 on its frame 323 having driving connection with a sheave formation 334 of the head through a pulley and belt drive 335, the motors being energized at the proper time from suitable power lines by way of a drum type switch 335 on the central shaft and co-operating contacts 331 on the table 258.

Conditioned clay is supplied to the clay feeding head 282 from a desiccator 348 into which a desired type of clay slip is fed from the clay prep- While this desiccator may be of any suitable type, it is preferable to employ thedesiccator forming part of a valved pipe and other means later described. As the atomized clay falls, it is dehydrated by hot, dry air admitted into the shell, from any suitable source, by way of a valved conduit 352. The dehydrated clay falls onto the bottom 353 of the shell from which it is progressed by a rotating snail or deflector 354 through the shell outlet 355 and into a charging cylinder 356. From the charging cylinder, the clay is forced into the feeding head 282 by way of a conduit connection 351 therebetween and a reciprocating plunger 358 in the cylinder operated by a fluid pressure motor 359. The desiccator and charger being in closed communication, prevents contamination of the clay by foreign matter, and to further prevent air entrapment in the clay,

the desiccator may be vacuumized by having connection with any suitable vacuum source through a valved conduit 36!].

The next machine 66 to which the molds are advanced is provided to feed charges of filtered clay if so desired, and for this purpose may comprise a duplicate of the machine 65, to which the filtered clay may be supplied from a continuous filter. However, as seen in Figures 11 to 12, this machine constitutes a modified form of the machine 65, with parts similar to those of the latter being designated by like reference characters with an exponent a.

In this form of the charger, the wheel 2110a has a flat concentric annular top surface 362 engaged by a peripheral flange formation 363 of the stationary cam 3211a. In this flange is formed a clay feeding head 364 comprising an arcuate channel section forming withsaid surface 362 a clay feeding chamber 365 from which clay is forced into the charging cylinders 219a by way of ports 366 continuing from the surface. a

As a result, this form is more compact than th first form and less wear will occur between the contacting surfaces of the wheel and feeder head because of the lesser amount of surface required on the wheel nearer the axis thereof in co-operating to form the clay feeding chamber, and the comparatively reduced extent of travel thereof.

For supplying clay to the feeding head (see Figure 12), a continuous clay filter 318 is employed comprising an enclosed housing 31l including a filter chamber 312 and a drying chamber 313 within which are arranged, respectively, a rotating filter drum 314 and a rotating dryer drum 315 about which are supported a series of endless parallel cords 316. The filter drum is partly submerged in clay slip contained in a tank formation 311 of the casing supplied from the clay preparation system B by way of a valved conduit 311a. As the clay is built up on filter cloth 318 covering the permeable wall 319 of the drum 314, by vacuum created in the drum, it is carried by the cords 316 about the dryer drum 315. After being sufficiently dried on the dryer drum by heated air supplied to the drying chamber 313, through a conduit 380, the clay is stripped from the cords by a stationary comb 38! to fall through a bottom outlet 382 of the housing which connects with the feed hopper 383 of a pug mill 334. homogeneous mass as it is progressed in the pug mill by the usual blades 385 on a central rotating shaft 386 having an auger 381 which forces the clay from the discharge end 388 of the pug mill into a feed cylinder 389 connected therewith. From the feed cylinder, the clay is forced into the feeding head 364 by way of a connecting conduit section 396 and a reciprocating plunger 39! in the cylinder operated by a suitable fluid pressure motor 392.

The structure just described thus provides an enclosed clay treating system between the clay preparation system B and the feeder head 364, to prevent contamination of the clay by foreign matter. To further prevent air entrapment in the clay, it is contemplated to vacuumize the filter chamber and the drying chamber by connecting same with a suitable vacuum source by way of valve conduits 393 and 394, respectively, and

' whereby the desired degree ofvacuum may be maintained therein.

The machine 61 to which the molds are next advanced is provided for use in feeding charges of a certain type of clay wherein it is desired or essential that the clay be filtered by an ordinary filter press.

While this machine could be a duplicate of the charger 65, as seen in Figures 14 to 16, it comprises another modified form thereof with parts similar to those of the first form being designated by like reference characters having an exponent b.

In this form of charger, each charge puddling and reforming device 3641) is raised and lowered into and out of engagement with a charge by a cylinder and piston type fluid motor 398 supported on the table 3481) and having its piston rod 399 connected with the frame 7323b carrying the device. On the piston rod may be adjustable stop collars 486 for alternate engagement with end bearings of the motor cylinder to regulate the upper and lower limits of movement of the device with respect to the charges. The motors 398 may be energized from the air pressure line 25% to operate the devices 38% at the proper time, by means similar to that employed to energize the motors 251 and 288.

The charging cylinders 21% may be supplied from a clay feeding head 482 supported on the cam 3211) and comprising a channeled arcuatev The filtered clay is then mixed into a segment forming with the inner wall of a concentric upright annular wall 403 of the wheel 2ll'b, a feeding chamber 404 from which the clay is fed to the cylinders by way of passages 405 continuing from said wall. While the charges are being ejected from the charging cylinders, the passages 404 may be closed, to prevent the escape of clay, by an arcuate guard extension 406 of the feeder head (Figure .15). The feeder head is mounted on the cam 32??) by means of bolts 40'! passing through elongated slots 408 in lugs 409 of the head to permit adjustment of same and guardextension thereof into sealing engagement with the wall 403.

As seen in Figures 2 and 16, the clay to be supplied to the feeder head 402 may be derived from the clay preparation system R by way of a valved conduit 4 I 0 leading to an ordinary filter press I of the bag and frame type. As the filter cakes are removed from the frames of the press, they are I placed on a conveniently located conveyor 4 l2 which discharges them into the hopper of a pug mill 4 l4, similar to the pug mill 384 of the second form of charger, and from which the thoroughly homogenized clay is fed to the feeder head by way of means similar to that employed in association with said latter pug mill.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for feeding clay to a line of molds comprising, in combination, a stationary conduit having an outlet, an angularly movable nozzle through which clay may be fed to the molds, aclay passage for the nozzle leading back to an inlet, means for moving the nozzle in an endless circular path into-and out of register with molds therebelow and the inlet into and'out of register with the outlet, means for closing the outlet when not in register with the inlet,.and meansfor supplying clay to said conduit.

2. Apparatus for feeding cla to a line of molds comprising, in combination, a stationary conduit having an outlet, aplurality of movable nozzles through which clay may be fed to the molds, a clay passage for each nozzle leading back to an inlet, means for moving the nozzles in an endless, circular pathinto and out of register with molds therebelow and the inlet of each nozzle into and out of register with the outlet, means for closing the outlet whennot in register withan inlet, and means for supplying clay to said conduit.

3. Apparatus for feeding clay to amoving line of molds comprising, in combination, a stationary conduit having an outlet, a movable nozzle through which clay may be fed to the molds, a clay passage for said nozzleleading back to an :inlet, means for moving the nozzle in an endless path, continuously, into and out of register-with molds therebelow and the inlet into and out of register with the outlet, means for closing the outlet whennot in register with the inlet and means for supplyingclay to said conduit.

4- Apparatus for feedingclay to a line of molds comprising, in combination, a movable nozzle =sup-' ported for rotation about an axis through which clay may be fed to molds 'therebeiovv, .a clay passagefor the nozzle leading back to an inlet which opens outwardly away from-the path of travel of the nozzle, a conduit arranged externally of the path of travel of the nozzle having an outlet, means for moving said nozzle in an endless, circular path into and out of register with molds therebelow and the inlet'into and out of register with the outlet, means vfor closing theoutlet when the inlet is out of register. therewith, and" means for supplying clay to said conduit;

5. Apparatus for feeding clay to a line of molds comprising, in combination, a movable nozzle supported for rotationabout an axis through which clay may be fed to molds therebelow, a clay passage for the nozzle leading back to an inlet which opens inwardly toward the center of the path of travel of the nozzle, a conduit arranged inside of the path of travel of the nozzle having an outlet, means for moving said nozzle in an endless, circular path into and out of register with molds therebelow and the inlet into and out of register with the outlet, means for closing the oulet when the inlet is out of register therewith, and means for supplying clay to said conduit.

6. Apparatus for feeding clay to a line of molds comprising, in combination, an angularly movable nozzle through which clay may be fed to molds therebelow, a clay passage for the nozzle leading" back to an inlet, a stationary conduit having an outlet, means for rotating the nozzle in a circular path about an axis to move thenoz-; zle in an endless, circular path into and out-of register with molds therebe'low and the'inle't'int'o and out of register with the outlet, means for. closing the outlet when the inlet is out of register with the outlet, and :rneans for supplying clay to said inlet.

7. Apparatus for feeding clay to a moving line of molds'comprising, in combination, an angularly movable nozzle through which clay maybe fed to molds therebeloW, a clay passage for the'nozzle leading back to an inlet, a stationary conduit having an outlet, means for rotating the-nozzle continuously in a circular path about an axis to move the nozzle with and into and out of register with molds therebelow and the inlet into and out of register with the'outlet, means for closing the outlet when the inlet is out of register with "the outlet, and means for supplying clay to said inlet.

8. Apparatus for feeding clay to'a moving line of molds comprising, in combination, a stationary conduit having an outlet, a plurality of angularly movable nozzles through which clay may befed to the molds, a clay passage for each nozzle'leading' back to an inlet, means for rotating the nozzles in a circular path, about an axis to move the nozzles with, and into and out of register with molds therebelow and the inlet of eachnozzle into and out of register with the-outlet, means'for closing the outlet when not in register with an inlet, and means for supplying clay to said conduit.

9. Apparatus for feeding clay to a moving line of molds comprising, in combination, a stationary conduit having an outlet, aplurality of angularly movable nozzles through which clay may be fed to molds therebelow, a clay passage for eachnozzle leading back to an inlet, means for rotating the nozzles, continuously, about a given axis to move the nozzles with, and into and out of register with the molds and the inlet into and out of register with the outlet, means for closing the outlet between registrationwith the several inlets and means for supplyingcla-y to said conduit.

10. Apparatus for feeding clay to a moving line of molds comprising, in combination, a stationary conduit havin an outlet, a movable nozzle through which clay may be fed to the molds, a clay passage for the nozzle leading back-to an inlet, means for moving the'nozzle with, and into and out of register with molds therebelow and the inlet into and out of register with the-outlet, means for closingthe outlet when not in register with theinlet, and means for supplying clay to said conduit including a pipe to be filled with clay and a plunger movable axially of the pipe to force clay therefrom into said conduit.

11. Apparatus for feeding clay to a line of molds comprising, in combination, a stationary conduit having an outlet, a movable nozzle through which clay may be fed to the molds, a clay passage for the nozzle leading back to an inlet, means for moving the nozzle into and out of register with molds therebelow and the inlet into and out of register with the outlet, means for closing the outlet when not in register with the inlet, and means for supplying clay to said conduit including a pipe to be filled with clay connected to the conduit and means for dehydrating clay.

12. Apparatus for feeding clay to a moving line of molds comprising, in combination, a stationary conduit having an outlet, a movable nozzle through which clay may be fed to the molds, a clay passage for the nozzle leading back to an inlet, means for moving the nozzle with, and into and out of register with molds therebelow and the inlet into and out of register with the out- .let, means for closing the outlet when not in reg.-

ister with the inlet, and means for supplying clay to said conduit including a pipe to be filled with clay, connected to the conduit, and a pug mill connected to the pipe.

13. Apparatus for feeding clay to a line of molds comprising, in combination, a stationary conduit having an outlet, a movable nozzle through which clay may be fed to the molds, a clay passage for the nozzle leading back to an inlet, means for moving the nozzle into and out of register with molds therebelow and the inlet into and out of register with the outlet, means for closing the outlet when not in register with the inlet, and means for supplying clay to said conduit including a pipe to be filled with clay connected to said conduit, a pug mill connected to said pipe and a dehydrator having an outlet discharging directly into said pug mill.

14. Apparatus for feeding clay to a line of molds comprising, in combination, a stationary conduit having an outlet, a movable nozzle through which clay may be fed to the molds, a clay passage for the nozzle leading back to an inlet, means for moving the nozzle into and out of register with molds therebelow and the inlet into and out of register with the outlet, means for closing the outlet when not in register with the inlet, and means for supplying clay to said conduit including a pipe to be filled with clay connected to said conduit, a desiccator having a discharge outlet directly connected to said pipe.

15. Apparatus for feeding clay to a moving line of molds comprising, in combination, a stationary conduit having an outlet, a movable nozzle through which clay may be fed to the molds, a clay passage for the nozzle leading back to an in.- let, means for moving the nozzle with, and into and out of register with molds therebelow and the inlet into and out of register with the outlet, means for closing the outlet when not in register with the inlet, and means for supplying clay to said conduit including a pipe to be filled with clay connected to said conduit, a pug mill directly connected to said pipe, and a conveyor for delivering filter cakes to said pug mill.

16. Apparatus for feeding clay to a moving line of dinnerware molds comprising, in combination, a support for carrying molds through a feeding zone, a plurality of nozzles above said support mounted to move therewith in register with molds therebelow, a passage for each nozzle leading back to an inlet, a source of clay supply including stationary clay conducting means, having an outlet for co-operation with the several inlets in the feeding zone, a plunger for each nozzle for ejecting clay therethrough and plungeractuating means operable to effect the discharge of clay through said nozzles in the feeding zone.

17. Apparatus for feeding clay to a moving line of dinnerware molds comprising, in' combination, a support for carrying molds through a feeding zone, a plurality of nozzles above said support mounted to move into and out of register with molds therebelow, a passage for each nozzle leading back to an inlet, a clay feeding head adjacent the line of travel of the nozzles having an outlet, means for moving said nozzles to bring the inlet of each nozzle, successively into register with the outlet, a pipe connected to the clay feeding head having a passage leading back to an inlet, a chamber connected to said last named inlet, means in said chamber for progressing clay therefrom into said pipe, and a plunger movable axially of said pipe for forcing clay therefrom into said clay feeding head.

18. Apparatus for feeding clay to a moving line of dinnerware molds comprising, in combination, a support for carrying molds through a feeding zone, a plurality of nozzles above said support mounted to move therewith in register with molds therebelow, a passage for each nozzle leading back to an inlet, a source of clay supply including stationary clay conducting means having an outlet for co-operation with the several inlets in the feeding zone, a plunger for each nozzle for ejecting clay therethrough, plunger actuating means operable to effect the discharge of clay through said nozzles in the feeding zone and mold lifters below said support operable to raise molds therefrom up to the nozzles in timed relation with the operation of said plunger.

19. Apparatus for feeding clay to a moving line of molds comprising a plurality of nozzles through which clay may be fed to molds therebelow, means for continuously moving the nozzles in a closed path, a stationary clay container formed with an outlet arranged to discharge clay into said nozzles at a given location in their path of travel, means for sealing the outlet against leakage of clay between nozzle filling operations and means for applying pressure to the clay in said container to effect the discharge thereof into said nozzles.

20. Apparatus for feeding clay to a moving line of molds comprising a plurality of nozzles through which clay may be fed to molds therebelow, means for continuously rotating said nozzles about a center point, and a stationary clay container, curved as the path of travel of the nozzles formed with a discharge outlet through which clay is supplied to said nozzles at a given location in their path of travel.

21. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising, a support for carrying molds through a clay feeding zone, a clay feeder in said zone including a plurality of clay discharge nozzles rotatable about a common axis, each nozzle having a clay passage leading back to an inlet, a stationary clay supplying member having an outlet positioned so as to register with each inlet during a predetermined number of degrees of rotation about the axis, and conveying means for carrying empty moldsto said support and for removing charged molds therefrom.

22. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising, a support for carrying molds through a clay feeding zone, a clay feeder in said zone including a plurality of clay discharge nozzles rotatable about a common axis, each nozzle having a clay passage leading back to an inlet, a stationary clay supplying member formed with an elongated outlet extending for several degrees of rotation of the discharge nozzles and positioned so as to register witheach inlet during a predetermined number of degrees of travel about the axis, and conveying means for carrying empty molds to said support and for removing charged molds therefrom.

23. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising, a plurality of clay discharge nozzles rotatable about a common axis, a mold lifter below each nozzle and movable therewith, a clay passage for each nozzle leading back to an inlet, a stationary clay supplying member having an outlet adapted to register with the inlet for each nozzle means for sealing each inlet relative to the outlet when in register and drive means for rotating said nozzles and supports about said axis.

24. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising, a plurality of clay discharge nozzles rotatable about a common axis, a mold lifter below each nozzle and movable therewith, a clay passage for each nozzle leading back to an inlet, a stationary clay supplying member having an outlet adapted to register with the inlet for each nozzle, means for sealing each inlet relative to the outlet when in register and drive means for continuously rotating said nozzles and supports about said axis.

25. Clay feeding apparatus comprising, a clay discharge nozzle, means for angularly moving said nozzle with, and into and out of register with a traveling mold therebelow, a clay passage for said nozzle leading back to an inlet, a stationary clay supplying member having an outlet adapted to periodically register with said inlet, fluid pressure operated means for forcing clay through the outlet into said inlet when the two are in register and a Valve for controlling the operation of said fluid pressure operated means.

26. Apparatus for feeding clay to a moving line of molds comprising, in combination, a stationary conduit having an outlet, a movable nozzle through which clay is fed to molds, a clay passage for the nozzle leading back to an inlet, means for moving the nozzle with, and into and out of register With molds therebelow and the inlet into and out of register with the outlet, and means for supplying clay to said conduit.

27. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising, a mold charging means having a clay passage leading back to an inlet, a clay dryer employing hot air as the drying medium having an outlet in closed communication with said inlet and means for forcing dried clay from the dryer through the outlet into the inlet.

28. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising, a mold charging means having a clay passage leading back to an inlet, means for forcing clay through said passage, a clay dryer employing hot air as a drying medium having an outlet in closed communication with said inlet and power driven means for forcing clay from said dryer through the outlet into the inlet.

29. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising a mold charging means having a clay passage leading back to an inlet, means for forcing clay through said passage, a clay dryer employing hot air as a drying medium having an outlet in closed communication with said inlet and rotatable, power driven means for forcing 14 clay from said dryerthrough the outlet into the inlet.

30. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising, a moldcharging meanshaving a clay passage leading back'to an inlet, a plunger for forcing clay through said passage, a clay dryer employing hotiair. as .a dryingmedium having an outlet in closed. communication with sa-idinlet and power operated means for forcing clay through said outlet into said inlet.

31. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising, mold charging means having a clay passage leading back to an inlet, a pug mill having an outlet connected to said inlet, and an opening through which clay is received and a clay dryer arranged to discharge clay through the opening into the pug mill.

32. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising, mold charging means having a clay passage leading back to an inlet, a power driven pug mill having an outlet connected to said inlet, a plunger for forcing clay received from the pugmill through the passage, and a clay dryer arrarlilged to discharge clay directly into said pug m1 l 33. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising, mold charging means having a clay passage leading back to an inlet, a pug mill having a discharge outlet connected to the inlet, means for forcing clay from the pug mill through the passage and a continuously operating clay dryer arranged to discharge clay directly into said pug mill.

34. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising, means for charging molds having a clay passage leading back to an inlet, a pug mill having a discharge outlet connected to the inlet, means for forcing clay from the pug mill through the passage and a clay dryer having an endless member from which dried clay is removed arranged with the removal zone in register with the feed opening of the pug mill.

35. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising, a source of supply of liquid slip, a feed nozzle through which plastic clay is fed to molds therebelow in closed communication with the source of liquid slip and means operable upon the liquid clay between the source and the outlet for extracting moisture from the slip and reducing the same to plastic consistency suitable for jiggering.

36. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising, a source of supply of liquid slip, a feed nozzle through which plastic clay is fed to molds therebelow in closed communication with the source of liquid slip, means operable upon the liquid slip between the source and the outlet for extracting moisture from the slip and reducing the same to plastic consistency suitable for jiggering and means for moving the material between the source of supply to the feed outlet.

37. Apparatus for feeding clay to pottery molds comprising, a source of supply of liquid slip, a pugmill, a feed nozzle through which plastic clay is fed to molds therebelow having a passage leading back to and in closed communication with clay pugging and extruding means, a filter press in closed communication with the source of liquid slip and means for receiving plastic clay discharged from the filter press and depositing the same in the pugmill.

WILLIAM J. MILLER.

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITED Number Name 1 Date The following references are of record in the 1 fig g g file 7111s Patent: 1,906,566 Friedl May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,963l031 Powell June 12, 1934 E 2026 624 Flower Jan. "I 1936 Number Name Date 1 t all Jan 8.Y Longenecker Aug. 3,

Cuscaden t alpt Emerson et al. Mar. 9,

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,486,051 October 25', 1949 WILLIAM J. MILLER It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requu'ing correction as follows:

Column 6, line 12, for intermedate read intermedzate; column 8, line 44, for the word valve read valved; line'59, for reforming read prqforming; column 10, line 35, and column 13, line 50, after with insert a comma;

the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of February, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant C'ommz'ssz'oner of Patmtl. 

